Global Cooperation Regime Weakens as Countries Turn to Bilateral Deals

The international community is witnessing a growing trend towards bilateral agreements in the fight against transnational organized crime, as countries increasingly turn away from multilateral cooperation.

Factors Contributing to the Shift

According to experts, countries are seeking simpler and more effective ways to address transnational crime, leading them to opt for bilateral agreements over multilateral treaties. This shift is attributed to a combination of factors, including:

• Uncertainty: Countries may be turning away from multilateral agreements due to uncertainty surrounding international commitments.
• Shifts in Power Dynamics: Changes in global power structures may lead countries to prioritize their own interests and seek bilateral agreements that better serve their needs.
• Strategic Interests: States’ policies are often strategic, and they pursue or refuse cooperation to the extent that it serves their interests.

The Rise of Bilateral Agreements

Countries are seeking easier and more effective ways to address transnational crime, leading them to opt for bilateral agreements. These agreements:

• Provide flexibility in an ever-changing environment
• Allow for easier renegotiation
• Can be tailored to specific criminal threats or localized strategies to control crime

Concerns about the Long-Term Implications

However, this trend raises concerns about the long-term implications of unilateral action on the global cooperation regime. Unilateralism may:

• Have negative consequences for the world order
• Undermine human rights and the rule of law
• Weaken multilateral institutions and mechanisms

Efforts to Establish New Coalitions

Despite these concerns, some countries are taking steps to establish new coalitions for cooperation. For example:

• The Australia-UK-US pact on advanced technologies
• A new multilateral initiative aimed at combating cybercrime led by President Joe Biden

Unilateral Action: Implications and Concerns

Some countries are opting for unilateral action to fight organized crime, often using methods that are illegal and problematic for international law. This trend may lead to:

• Fragmentation of efforts
• Weakening of multilateral institutions and mechanisms
• Creation of “cooperation bubbles” focused on specific criminal threats or localized strategies to control crime

Conclusion

The growing trend towards bilateral agreements in the fight against transnational organized crime reflects a complex interplay of factors, including uncertainty, shifts in power dynamics, and strategic interests. While this trend may not necessarily represent a retreat from cooperation, it does raise concerns about the long-term implications for the global cooperation regime.